As a Director of Occupational Health and Safety, you lead the development, implementation, and oversight of comprehensive health and safety programs across the Department of National Defence. You are responsible for setting strategic direction, establishing policies, and ensuring compliance with federal legislation including the Canada Labour Code. This leadership role requires you to champion a strong safety culture while balancing operational requirements with employee wellbeing.
Your day-to-day responsibilities include managing a team of occupational health and safety professionals, conducting risk assessments, investigating workplace incidents, and providing expert advice to senior leadership on health and safety matters. You work closely with human resources, operations, and other departments to integrate safety considerations into all aspects of workplace planning and decision-making.
You work in a dynamic environment where your decisions directly impact the health and safety of thousands of DND employees and personnel. Your role involves both strategic planning and hands-on problem-solving, from developing new safety protocols to responding to workplace incidents. You may work at National Defence Headquarters or at various DND locations across Canada.
Key Responsibilities
Plan and manage the delivery of occupational health and safety services and programs, Supervise and develop staff within the occupational health and safety team, Monitor performance metrics and report on results, Develop and implement operational plans and procedures, Manage stakeholder relationships and ensure service quality
Required Skills
HR policy interpretation, Interpersonal skills, Staffing and classification, Conflict resolution, Labour relations knowledge, Team leadership, Operational planning, Stakeholder engagement, Results management
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent; significant experience in the relevant discipline with demonstrated leadership
Training
To succeed in this role, you typically need a university degree in occupational health and safety, human resources management, industrial relations, or a related field. Many Directors also hold professional certifications such as Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE), Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) from recognized professional bodies.
The Government of Canada provides ongoing professional development opportunities including management training, specialized occupational health and safety courses, and leadership development programs. You are encouraged to maintain and advance relevant certifications throughout your career. Familiarity with federal legislation, collective agreements, and Treasury Board policies is essential and is often developed through on-the-job experience and formal training programs offered by the Public Service Commission.
Entry Plans
Entry to this Director-level position typically occurs through one of several pathways. The most common route is advancement from within the occupational health and safety field—you may progress through positions such as Occupational Health and Safety Officer or Manager before reaching the Director level. Federal public service job competitions are posted on the Government of Canada's job board (jobs.gc.ca) and are open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons.
Alternatively, you may enter at the Director level through lateral movement if you have equivalent management experience in related fields such as human resources management, risk management, or operations. Some candidates bring specialized experience from the private sector, provided they meet federal requirements and pass a security clearance process. The Public Service Commission manages most recruitment processes, and your application will be evaluated against established criteria including education, experience, and leadership capability.
Part-Time Options
Director-level positions in occupational health and safety are typically full-time, as the role requires consistent strategic leadership and decision-making. However, the federal Public Service does offer flexible work arrangements in many cases, and these can be negotiated based on operational needs and departmental policy.
While remote work options have expanded across the federal government, positions requiring site visits, incident investigations, and in-person team leadership may have limitations on full-time remote arrangements. Most Directors work a standard full-time schedule, though some flexibility in hours and occasional work-from-home days may be available. Specific arrangements depend on the location, team needs, and agreement with your manager. Part-time work at the Director level is uncommon but not impossible—this would be discussed during the recruitment process or negotiated after appointment.
Related Careers
No related military careers on file for this position.
